Locking device for box covers



Nov. 11 1924.

P. ASSNER LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOX COVERS Filed Dec. 5 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11 1924.

1,514.82l P. ASSNER LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOX COVERS Filed Dec. 5 1923 2 SneeLs-Sneet 2 Patented Nov. 11, 1924..

PHILLIP ASSNER, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOX COVERS.

Application filed December 5, 1923. Serial No. 678,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILLIP Assnnnga citizen of the United States of America, and a resident ofDorohester, in the county of Suffolk, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking *Devices for Box Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for locking the covers of boxes provided with supplemental transparent covers to prevent access to the contents of a box while the latter is displayed upon a counter, said locking device being movable to unlock the cover when it is desired to obtain access to the contents thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide means for preventing pettythefts of goods exposed upon a counter,

a device which is extensible and adapted to fit various lengths of boxes and which may be quickly applied to a box, said device in one position locking the cover in a substantially vertical position, while in another position said cover is unlocked and permitted to be moved rearwardly about its hinge connection with the box proper.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be understood readily by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be varlously arranged and organized, and the invention LS not limited to the precise arrangement and organi-' zation of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described, except as required by the scope of the appended claims. Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a horizontal section of a box with a device embodying the principles of the present invention applied thereto, said section being on line 1, 1, on Fig. 2. Figure 2 represents a rear view of said box and the cover locking device.

Figure 3 represents a similar view with The invention consists in the production of the locking device in position to permit rearward movement of the cover.

Figure 4 represents a vertical section of same on line 4, 4, on Figure 2, with the cover locked, and i v Figure 5 represents a vertical section on line 5, 5, 011 Fig. 2 with the cover unlocked and tilted back. I

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In many stores it is the practice to expose certain goods for sale upon the counters Where they are within reach of customers and this has ledto petty thefts of some of the smaller articles, suchas cigars, when the salesman has been engaged in another part of the store.

To obviate this, some manufacturers of cigars have provided the boxes with a transparent plate mounted in a metal frame having at its rear end a strap or bar on the front of the cover, this strap having slips at its opposite ends which enclose the ends of said cover. This plate permitted the cigars to be seen by the customer and at the same time prevented dirt and other foreign substances entering the boxes and spoiling the same.

While such devices were obviously very desirable and possessed many advantages there was nothing to prevent a person from lifting the transparent plate and removing some of the contents of the box when the salesmans back was turned.

These petty thefts have been so great that it has been found necessary to provide some locking means to prevent the supplemental cover or plate being lifted except by the salesman. The device shown and described herein effectually accomplishes this purpose.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a box provided with a cover 11 hinged thereto at 12 in the usual manner.

On the front of this cover 11 is a strap 13 having at its opposite ends clips 14 which enclose the ends of the cover 11. This strap or bar 13 is formed integral with a frame 15 enclosing a glass plate 16 which is used to close the top of the box 10 when the main cover 11 is in open position and showing on its front face the name of maker and brand of the cigars exposed to view through the transparent plate 16.

These supplemental transparent covers and means of attaching to the main cover of the box are usually provided by the cigar manufacturer and the present invention consists in providing a locking means which will coact therewith without changing in any manner the construction thereof.

The locking means consists of two plates 17-18, the former having a lateral exten sion 19 which is slidable in guides formed by inturnedflanges 20, 21, formed upon the upperand lower edges of an extension22 forming a part of-the plate 18.

By'sliding the members 17, 18, relatively to-each other the device may be adjusted for use in connection with boxes of varying lengths. I

There is enough friction betweenthe extension 19 and the flanges 20, 21 to retain the members 17'18 in adjusted position.

The outer vertical edges of the members 17, 18, extend between the rear face ofthe cover 11 and the clips 14 and-are freely slidable in a vertical direction. I

The lower ends of the member 17, 18, are provided with projections 23 which when the members 17,18, are raised come into contact with the clips 14 to limit the upward movement of the locking device.

The fiangeQO. is provided with a rearward extension 2 1 by which the locking device may be lifted into the position shown in Figs.,3 and 5., to permit the plate 16 to be lifted to give access to the contents of the hand the operator may movethe cover 11' rearwardly about the hinge connection 12 and thereby lift the plate 16, thus permitting him to removevthe contents of the box wit his. other hand. I

As soon as the purchase has been made both covers 11,16, are returned to their normal positions'as indicated in Fig. 4:, and the -1;n6mbers:1718 are returned to their lower positions with the ears 25 on the members 17, 18,- extending upwardly above the hinge,

connection 12 and in contact with the rear face of the cover 11, thereby preventing further movement of said cover 11 until the members 17, 18 are again lifted.

It is obvious that they locking device is hidden from the customers behind the box I 10.- and cover 11 and the customers are therefore in ignorance of what is looking the plate 16 to the box 10. This makes a very simple and inexpensive locking device for covers and it is believed that its operation and many advantages will be understood without further description.

transparent plate mounted on said cover by l astrap having oppositely disposed clipsenclosing theendsof said cover, a device at the rear of said box slidable within said clips and having portions projecting above the hinge connection between said boxand cover when said device is in its lowest position and stop members on, the lower end of said device to contact with said clips and limit the upward movement of said device.

3. The combination with a boxfhaving a cover hinged thereto and a supplemental transparent plate mounted on said cover by strap having oppositely disposedclips'enclosing the ends of said cover, a device. at

the rear of said box slidable within said clips and having portions projecting .above,;,

the, hinge connection between said box and cover when said device is in its lowest position, said device being formed in two parts adjustable relative toeach other to adapt. it to various lengths of boxes. V

4. The combination with a box having a cover hinged thereto and a supplemental transparent plate mounted on said cover by a strap having oppositely disposed clipsenclosing the ends of said cover, a deviceatthe rear o1": said box slidable within said clips and having portions projecting above the hinge connection between sald box and cover when said device is in 1ts lowest position,

said device being formed in two/ arts, one of winch is provided with lnturned flanges forming guides for an extension on the other member.

I 5. The combination with abox having. a cover hinged thereto and a supplemental transparent plate mounted on said coverby a strap having oppositely disposedclipsen- 7 closing the ends of said cover, a device at the rear of said box slidable within said-clips and having portions projecting abovefthe.

hinge connection between said boxand cover when said device is in its lowest position, said device being formed. in two parts, one or which is provided with inturned flanges forming guides for an extension on the other member, the upper. flange .having arearwardly extending projection.

6. The combination with a box member avmg a cover member hinged thereto and provided with a transparent plate forming a supplemental cover, a locking device slid- Boston, Massachusetts, this 3rd day of Deably mounted on one of said members with cember, 1923.

projecting portions in the rear of the other member and adapted to be moved in a verti- PHILLIP ASSNER.

5 cal direction into a position Wholly behind Witnesses:

the first mentioned member. WALTER E. LOMBARD, Signed by me at 146 Old South Building, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

